The theory behind the Coalition election campaign was that when people finally started engaging with what the politicians were saying that the record of sound economic management would enable it to pull back Labor’s lead. Well the public interest has finally arrived but the pullback hasn’t.

The Crikey Reality Check of what stories people are actually reading on internet news sites has this week reached a record level and will go higher before the week ends. But the stories people are reading are not about a competent Government comfortably in control of events but of a Government at panic stations.

 

Sydney Morning Herald

  1. ‘Dirty dozen’ smear on ALP candidates
  2. Saudis defend rape victim’s thrashing
  3. Robbed pilots saved from a swampy fate
  4. Boy stabs brother over TV program
  5. Kevin’s above, he’s even big in Hong Kong

The Age

  1. Buzz off
  2. The PM continues to misrepresent the truth. He must go
  3. Lady luck embraces Labor, again
  4. Lankan revival Rudi interrupted
  5. Threat to Labor on records

The Australian

  1. Staffer lands Newhouse in row
  2. Kyoto targets flouted
  3. Deputy premier ‘broke the law’
  4. ALP takes winning lead into…
  5. Libs flag Wentworth legal challenge

ABC

  • 13 Labor candidates potentially ineligible to stand
  • Rudd ‘humbled’ by WorkChoices petition
  • Aussies sweep Sri Lankan series
  • Paparazzo denies bugging Kidman’s home
  • Former premier’s son has licence suspended

The West Australian

  1. Jetstar offers 5c fare bonanza
  2. Cousins to take his time until 2009
  3. Ban Ben from WAFL
  4. Harry wins over Chelsy with calls, text messages
  5. Jack’s ready for a stoush with KFC

Sydney Telegraph

  1. $10m loser’s luck finally turns
  2. The Right Brain vs Left Brain
  3. Mason and Sailor go troppo
  4. Jerry lays into Latham one-liner
  5. PM dunked on leadership plan

Melbourne Herald Sun

  1. Right Brain v Left Brain
  2. Challenge backfires on Libs
  3. Saints boot ground over pokies
  4. Romance an X factor
  5. Jetstar offers 5c fares

Advertiser

  1. Nine axes McLeod’s
  2. Cornes looks down and out
  3. Nicole swings into action
  4. Garrett’s sex text pestering
  5. Gong for Vanessa the undresser

Courier Mail

  1. Granny, 102, in nude calendar
  2. Witness tells of diver’s last look
  3. Liberals face bypass backlash
  4. Jetstar 5c fares up for grabs
  5. Family told of health risk

news.com.au

  1. Jetstar 5c fares up for grabs
  2. ‘Tree-man’ has experts baffled
  3. Tree man ‘denied treatment’ by…
  4. It’s that time of month, all…
  5. Tree man ‘may be denied treatment’